Hockey buzz can rest easy… i will NEVER buy a thing from Chicos. Most annoying pop up.
- LFS

Duck Duck Go has a good pop up blocker plugin and meh search engine but they're focused on privacy and stuff like that which is probably an ok thing.

KD and staff could be really scratching their heads on this pick. Maybe they are finding flaws in each of the leading candidates.

Demidov - skating? level of competition? Russian factor?
Lindstrom - Narrow window of elite play (1/2 season before wrist injury)?, hockey IQ?, back injury?
Levshunov - Stock seems to have been falling recently for whatever reason?

Is there an outside chance he drops down a few spots? Maybe Montreal if they are in love with any of these three. #2 for #5, a young prospect ready for the NHL, and either #28 or Montreal's 1st next year. Hawks still get a good player at #5 - Catton, D!ckinson, Buium among the choices
- boilermaker100

Every player has flaws. Gretzky had flaws, he wasn't physical and couldn't fight.

Every player has flaws. Gretzky had flaws, he wasn't physical and couldn't fight.
- rpeters01

Then what good is he?????

Public Service Announcement....

If they draft a Russian who has to play another season in a Russian junior league before POSSIBLY coming to North America, the Board of Doom will freak out, even some who want the team to draft said Russian.
- mohel

Regardless of who the Hawks draft there will be segments of the board that complain.

Demidov - Russisans bad, he's never coming over to North America
Lindstrom - Back issues, he'll never be an impact player
Levshunov - he's a #4 d-man at best, a waste with the #2 pick
Parekh - soft, small d-man
Eiserman - lazy, one-dimensional forward
Buium - small, soft d-man

Regardless of who the Hawks draft there will be segments of the board that complain.

Demidov - Russisans bad, he's never coming over to North America
Lindstrom - Back issues, he'll never be an impact player
Levshunov - he's a #4 d-man at best, a waste with the #2 pick
Parekh - soft, small d-man
Eiserman - lazy, one-dimensional forward
Buium - small, soft d-man
- DarthKane

What???? You mean 17-18 year old kids aren't finished products? The hell you say.

All things considered it will be nice to see the Hawks continue to bring in some new blood with the draft and have some more guys coming up with potential. Hits or misses, we'll see. The draft always has surprises and players who don't pan out. I hope we are lucky!

I don't know about you guys, but I really enjoy the excitement of the unknown here. At the end of the day, the game is entertainment and it's more entertaining than just having the same old players return to do the same thing over again.

All things considered it will be nice to see the Hawks continue to bring in some new blood with the draft and have some more guys coming up with potential. Hits or misses, we'll see. The draft always has surprises and players who don't pan out. I hope we are lucky!

I don't know about you guys, but I really enjoy the excitement of the unknown here. At the end of the day, the game is entertainment and it's more entertaining than just having the same old players return to do the same thing over again.
- breadbag

Agreed. Imo, it is quite important for the rebuild that someone from this draft becomes a high-end NHL player. Odds favor that player coming with the #2 pick. No pressure.....

All things considered it will be nice to see the Hawks continue to bring in some new blood with the draft and have some more guys coming up with potential. Hits or misses, we'll see. The draft always has surprises and players who don't pan out. I hope we are lucky!

I don't know about you guys, but I really enjoy the excitement of the unknown here. At the end of the day, the game is entertainment and it's more entertaining than just having the same old players return to do the same thing over again.
- breadbag

I think the Hawks will draft at #2, but #18, #34 and #50 are all up for grabs. If KD can land a good, young forward via trade that will be with the Hawks for ~ 8 years (i.e. Necas) then I'm all for it. We all know that the Hawks will not be using all their picks to draft prospects.

If the Hawks end up drafting with those picks, I'd like to see Boisvert and #18, Letourneau at #34, and EJ Emery at #50.

https://x.com/TheFourthPe...how06QxcsyzbvejMHp4w&s=19

Hearing the #SJSharks    & 2023 4th-overall pick Will Smith are finalizing his three-year, entry-level contract and an announcement could come today.

More from the Pope article on Demidov:

“The shot, the stickhandling ability, the passing ability, the hockey sense are all very high-end,” Peters said. “His skating is average, but his ability to process the game offensively with some creativity can make him a potential gamebreaking player.

“Demidov gives the opportunity to get a player that’s not
- Chunk[exactly] an equal to Bedard but a comparable running mate, which is what makes him an attractive option at No. 2.”

The 5-11, 181-pound, 18-year-old right winger absolutely dominated the Russian junior league this season, racking up 88 points in 47 games during the regular season and playoffs combined. His ability to maneuver effectively through traffic stands out on his highlight reels, which are something to behold.

His skill set would complement Bedard well. He’s not a high-volume shooter like Bedard, Peters said, but more of a playmaker. He’s also eager to forecheck and drive the net, which could create more possession time and space for Bedard.

Peters still has him at 5'11 while there was an interview a week or so ago,I think it was Powers, where they said he'a tad bit over 6 feet tall.
His size and weight don't concern me.
But I do trust Wiz saying his skating could be an injury waiting to happen.

Peters still has him at 5'11 while there was an interview a week or so ago,I think it was Powers, where they said he'a tad bit over 6 feet tall.
His size and weight don't concern me.
But I do trust Wiz saying his skating could be an injury waiting to happen.
- captainserious

Not trying to sound like Yogi Berra here, but his skating is only a problem if it is a problem. If it's just odd, but he still gets the job done, then does it really matter? If gets a knee injury in the same way as say, MacKinnon, then is it the fault of his skating, or just that poop happens in hockey?

Not trying to sound like Yogi Berra here, but his skating is only a problem if it is a problem. If it's just odd, but he still gets the job done, then does it really matter? If gets a knee injury in the same way as say, MacKinnon, then is it the fault of his skating, or just that poop happens in hockey?
- Chunk

You beat me to it, I was going to see if I could track everyone that ever had a knee injury in the NHL and see if when i watched them, they skated like Demidov

Not trying to sound like Yogi Berra here, but his skating is only a problem if it is a problem. If it's just odd, but he still gets the job done, then does it really matter? If gets a knee injury in the same way as say, MacKinnon, then is it the fault of his skating, or just that poop happens in hockey?
- Chunk

75% of hockey is mental. The other half is physical.

Not trying to sound like Yogi Berra here, but his skating is only a problem if it is a problem. If it's just odd, but he still gets the job done, then does it really matter? If gets a knee injury in the same way as say, MacKinnon, then is it the fault of his skating, or just that poop happens in hockey?
- Chunk

You're right, if it gets the job done then who cares honestly.
I'm not at all familiar with skating styles leading to injuries,but I believe Wiz and maybe 1 other person mentioned it.
If it was me picking and I had Demidov as BPA,I wouldn't put much of an emphasis on his skating style.
I think one reason there is an emphasis on his skating is because KD and the team said in order to play for the Blackhawks,you have to be able to skate.
Might be one of the reasons they chose Moore over Yannick's son.

One podcast I recently listened to mentioned that Demidov is considerably better than Michkov. Gives me some hope.

One podcast I recently listened to mentioned that Demidov is considerably better than Michkov. Gives me some hope.
- ObeseOprah

At what? Was there any specifics mentioned, or just conjecture?

I mean, Michkov was mentioned in the same breath as Bedard last year, so I'm sure it's all relative.

At what? Was there any specifics mentioned, or just conjecture?

I mean, Michkov was mentioned in the same breath as Bedard last year, so I'm sure it's all relative.
- Chunk

Beat me to it. I think some analysts fall in love with the latest and greatest.

I don't know who the hell they are going to draft. Hopefully they are right on whoever it is

Looks like Misiak got a deal

https://twitter.com/NHLBl...hq9zuT0uX_9O2hHKY44Q&s=19

Looks like Misiak got a deal

https://twitter.com/NHLBl...hq9zuT0uX_9O2hHKY44Q&s=19
- BetweenTheDots

Rockford fodder

At what? Was there any specifics mentioned, or just conjecture?

I mean, Michkov was mentioned in the same breath as Bedard last year, so I'm sure it's all relative.
- Chunk

I’ll see if I can find the link, sorry. He mentioned that Michkov was more playmaker than scoring threat, while Demidov was both. Also mentioned that Demidov’s skills were better in most offensive areas, and that two way play is easier for Demidov than Michkov.

I don't know who the hell they are going to draft. Hopefully they are right on whoever it is
- BetweenTheDots

I do. It’s the guy half the board will love and half the board will say they reached for him.

I don't know who the hell they are going to draft. Hopefully they are right on whoever it is
- BetweenTheDots

Yup!

I do. It’s the guy half the board will love and half the board will say they reached for him.
- Chunk

Whomever it is he'll be a bust 5 minutes after he's drafted.

Found it: https://open.spotify.com/...%3A1n1ulHjfssbj4PdPX7Nq1m